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Personal Injury Cases – Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
Legal News and Personal Injury Publications provided by The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone

MA injury-death rate low compared to other states

Posted on | May 25, 2012 | Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone

Massachusetts has the third lowest rate of injury death in the country, according to a new study. A new report titled “The Facts Hurt: A State-By-State Injury Prevention Policy Report” examines key indicators of steps states can take to prevent injuries. Injuries may be linked to Massachusetts car accidents or motorcycle crashes in Massachusetts.

The report, released by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), concludes that millions of injuries could be prevented each year if more states took action such as adopting additional research-based injury prevention policies. The report also recommends fully implementing and enforcing programs.

While the average score for states is 5 out of 10, Massachusetts received a 7 out of 10 score (with zero being the lowest and 10 being the highest possible score). Only New York and New Jersey have lower injury death rates in the nation.

Injury prevention strategies include requiring bicycle helmets for all children and helmets for all bicycle riders. Some states require mandatory ignition interlocks for convicted drunk drivers. Seat belt laws also are recommended for injury prevention.

At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone, our personal injury lawyers represent people injured in Massachusetts car accidents or as a result of negligent actions of others. We have seen the devastating impact of serious injuries and work hard to protect the legal rights of people who have been hurt through no fault of their own.

The new report also identified emerging new injury threats, including texting while driving which can lead to serious car accidents.

"Seat belts, helmets, drunk driving laws and a range of other strong prevention policies and initiatives are reducing injury rates around the country," said Amber Williams, Executive Director of the Safe States Alliance.  "However, we could dramatically bring down rates of injuries from motor vehicles, assaults, falls, fires and a range of other risks even more if more states adopted, enforced and implemented proven policies.  Lack of national capacity and funding are major barriers to states adopting these and other policies."

If you or a loved one was injured due to negligence, contact an experienced personal injury attorney in Massachusetts. Call 1-800-WIN-WIN-1 to see if we can help.

The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone

Boston Area
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
Ph:617-338-4321

Teen Hosts Not Liable in Massachusetts Driving Under the Influence Car Accidents

Posted on | March 21, 2012 | Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone

We all know that teen driver car accidents are far more common than collisions caused by older drivers. Add alcohol to the equation and that worry increases exponentially, especially for parents. Underage drinking parties are all-too common these days, however, and the issue of culpability has become a complex point of contention in numerous teen drinking and driving lawsuits around the country.

Massachusetts has addressed at least part of the underage drinking and driving equation, with a new social host liability law. In early 2012, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that if teens host underage drinking parties but do not provide the alcohol consumed at the party, that they cannot be held responsible by a civil court if an inebriated guest is injured.

The case that instigated the ruling involved a 16-year old girl who was seriously injured in a driving under the influence car accident in 2007, and Boston, Springfield, Worcester-area personal injury attorney Mark E. Salomone has followed it closely. The girl's boyfriend, who was the driver of the car in which she was a passenger, had consumed alcohol at a party that had been hosted by a 19-year old girl. The host, whose father was not home during the gathering, did not provide any of the alcohol that the driver had consumed; he had brought his own 30-pack of beer and a bottle of rum to the event.

The injured girl's parents sued the 19-year old host but the subsequent ruling states that teenagers who host underage drinking parties but do not supply alcohol cannot be held civilly liable if one of their guests gets hurt. The court said a social host is only liable only when he or she provides alcohol or controls the supply of alcohol. It also denied a request to broaden the law by extending a “duty of care” to underage party hosts who don't supply alcohol but provide a location in which teens are allowed to drink.

No doubt, more legal rulings will be coming down the legislative pipeline as underage drinking parties become the grounds for more teenage car accident lawsuits. Teen social host liability, teen car accident injuries and teen drinking car crash fatalities are all in the news more and more these days, so it is up to every parent to educate their kids about the numerous dangers of underage drinking.

If your child was injured in a teen DUI car accident  or has been accused of liability as a teen social host of an underage drinking party car crash, you need the aggressive advocacy of Massachusetts personal injury attorney, Mark E. Salomone. For a free and confidential consultation, call 1-800-WIN-WIN-1 or contact us online today. We are ready to listen to you and discuss your legal options.

The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109